Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

‘Uniting Janata Parivar will be a tribute to Bommai’

HUBLI: Although it was not an occasion to talk about politics, “politics” did find a mention during the funeral of the former Chief Minister S.R. Bommai’s funeral here on Friday.

Even as thousands of people paid their last respects to the mortal remains of Mr. Bommai, those who spoke on the occasion referred to his “unfulfilled dream of uniting the Janata Parivar”.

The former Minister M.P. Prakash said “uniting the janata parivar” would be an apt tribute to a leader like Bommai. Mr. Bommai’s one-time party colleagues P.G.R. Sindhia, R.V. Deshpande, and Leeladevi R. Prasad recalled his contribution to the growth of second rung leaders in the party and his efforts for bringing together the Janata Dal factions. Ms. Prasad even appealed to those present at the funeral to renew their efforts to bring the “scattered lot” under a single umbrella.

Leaders belonging to other political parties, including the former Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, the former Ministers Jagadish Shettar and MLA D.R. Patil were all praise for Mr. Bommai.

Some of them stressed the need for remembering his contribution to the State by way of a memorial. Concurring with them, Mr. Prakash said the concept of the memorial should be finalised only after a detailed discussion with the contemporaries of Mr. Bommai. He said there was a need to bring out books on Mr. Bommai’s life and views.

The funeral of the former chief minister posed a problem to the traffic police as thousands of people swarmed the farmland of Mr. Bommai at Amargol off the old national highway to pay their last respects. Although the funeral procession passed through some villages in Kundagol, including Kamadolli, which went on for more than four hours from Thursday, many came to Hubli on Friday to attend the funeral.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

‘Uniting Janata Parivar will be a tribute to Bommai’
Dharwad ‘jamboo savari’ on October 20
ABVP activists seek more buses in Hubli
BJP leaders come to blows
Control room
BSNL’s offer
S.R. Bommai laid to rest

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu